Corn knife



J. JOHNSON ET AL CORN KNIFE March 30', 1937.

Filed Oct. 9, 19115 7 Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES CORN KNIFE James Johnson, Carrollton, and Joel Wood Yager, Ghent, Ky.

Application October 9, 1935, Serial No. 44,162

1 Claim. (Cl. 30-9) Our invention relates to corn knives for cutting corn stalks in the fleldand the main object is to provide a knife arranged to be worn on the foot and leg of the user in position to be readily and conveniently used for cutting the corn stalks while leaving the users hands free for picking up, holding and shocking the stalks. 1

Another object is to provide a device of this kind in simple and durable form and which may be readily attached to and detached from the leg and foot of the wearer.

Another object is to provide a device of this kind comprising an articulated frame or bar adapted to be placed along the outside of-the wearersleg and comprising an upper and lower section pivotally joinedat the level of the knee, a strap for fastening the upper section around the waist, a strap for fastening the lower section below the knee and a strap for fastening the lower end to the arch of the foot, and a corn cutting knife adjustably mounted on the said lower section and supported in an out-thrust position Just above the foot.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed. reference being had to the ac companying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a frontal elevation of the device showing the same as it is worn in use.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device alone. Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the corn knife. and its mounting alone.

Figure 4 is 'a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of this modification alone.

Referring now with more particularity to the drawing my invention comprises an articulated frame or leg bar 4 made up of two elongated pieces including an upper section 5 and lower section 6. The said upper section 5 has a fiat bearing ear 1 at its lower end pivotally mounted against a similar flat bearing ear 8 at the upper end of the lower section 6 and the lengths of the.

parts are calculated to cause the pivotal joint thus formed to fall at about the level of the knee A of the wearer as will be evident. At its upper end the upper section 5 has a plurality of out- 56 standing loops 9 through any one of which a waist strap or belt l0 may bepassed and buckled at ll about the wearers waist B. .The upper section '5 may be bowed somewhat as shown so as to lie nicely alongside the waist and the plural- 55 ity of loops 9 permits adjustment of the belt l0 to a comfortable height and position. A felt or other resilient pad I2 is riveted at l3 to the inside of the upper section 5 so as to protect the wearer's body from the bar.

The lower section 6 has a strap loop l4 some distance below the bearing ear 8 and a knee strap I5 is passed through this loop and buckled around the leg just below the knee A. Another felt pad I 6 riveted at I! tothe leg bar at this point protects the wearer's leg. At its lower end 10 the lower section 6 is bent laterally at right angles to form a foot rest l8 and then upward again at l9 and this foot rest l8 rests under the arch of the shoe C as shown. A foot strap 20 is then fastened at 2| to the lower section 6 and at 22 15 to the upturned end is and is buckled at 23 over the arch of the shoe holding the frame in place.

The frame thus constructed and worn will allow the user to walk freely along as usual and without any discomfort or hindrance from the frame. Simply by manipulating the three straps the frame may be taken off or replaced with convenience and dispatch.

A plurality of apertures 24 are formed in spaced relation along the lower section 6 of the leg bar and a knife mounting bracket 25 having spaced threaded studs 26 may be secured in place at any height or position along the bar by passing the studs 26 through the proper apertures 24 and securing the studs by the nuts 21 threaded thereon. The bracket 25 is thus mounted with its fiat head or plate 28 extended outwardly from the leg and an elongated corn knife 29 is secured by screws 30 to this head in an out-thrust position. The knife 29 may be horizontal or inclined 35 by proper position and location of the screws 39 and may of course be raised or lowered atwill by moving the bracket 25 as described. The sharpened cutting edge 3| of the knife is turned downward. A brace rod 32 is secured at 33 to the outer end of the knife 29 and extends upward and inward and is pivoted to an eye 34 which is secured to the lower bar section 6 below the knee. A plurality of apertures 35 along the outer upper margin of the knife 29 permit adjustment 45 of the brace rod 32 to accommodate changes in the position of the knife.

It will now be understood that by raising or lowering the foot the user may bring the knife 29 into play for cutting the corn stalks at the ground while still leaving his hands free for other uses. The action and use of the knife are natural and easily performed without tiring. This work aswell as other suitable work with the knife may be done very expeditiously. The knife .29 may of course be of any shape or size desired and may have several adjustment holes 36 for the upper screw 30 to vary the angle as will be understood.

In Figures 4 and 5 a modified formv of our invention is shown wherein the leg bar 4a has only the lower section 6a extending from the knee A down to the shoe C and held thereon by the straps 15a and 200, just as previously described. Also the knife mounting bracket and associated supporting means are eliminated and the bar section 6a is simply twisted axially at 31 to provide a flat portion at the proper level to mount the knife 25a which is secured thereon by screws a. While no provision for angular adjustment of the knife is shown same might be incorporated here as well if so desired. The operation of this form of the knife is of course the same as that previously described,

While we have herein set forth a certain preferred embodiment of our invention, it is understood that we may vary from the same in minor structural details, so as best to construct a practical device for the purpose intended, not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claim.

We claim:

In a device of the kind described, a leg bar adapted to be worn along the outer side of the leg and extending from the waist to the foot, the said bar comprising an upper section and a. lower section and a pivotal joint connecting the two alongside the knee, a strap for fastening the JAMES JOHNSON. JOEL WOOD YAGER. 

